People in Beirut have attended a vigil for the more than 200 victims of the huge explosion that devastated the Lebanese capital a week ago. The attendees stood in silence near the remains of the port as a Muslim call to prayer sounded out and church bells tolled at 18:09 p.m., the precise moment the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, unsafely stored at the port, exploded, killing at least 157 people, injuring many thousands and causing over three billion dollars worth of damage. The devastating blast caused massive public outrage, forcing the Lebanese government headed by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, a university professor who took office in January, to resign on Monday. He, however, avoided taking responsibility for last week's blast, blaming it on the entrenched political elite. "Their corruption created this tragedy," Diab said on Monday while announcing the resignation of his Cabinet during a televised national address. "Their corruption created this tragedy," he said. "Between us and change is a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics." Diab said that his caretaker administration would "follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster". The Lebanese government's resignation on Monday failed to pacify protesters, who clashed with police in central Beirut for a third consecutive night. Lebanon was already reeling with an unprecedented economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic before the disaster, with families pushed into poverty and hunger. Meanwhile, the United Nations said on Tuesday that the World Food Programme would be sending 50,000 tons of wheat flour to Beirut to "stabilize the national supply and ensure there is no food shortage in the country", with 17,500 tons arriving within two weeks.
